In my last post, I wrote about a few games my cherubs & I play to help get the jobs of household cleaning done & keep smiles on all our faces.
Here is the post I promassed with the game instructions.
1. Laundry Basketball:
Have children search for any dirty laundry they can find. Set a line where they can stand & toss the clotheing into a hamper or basket. (try searching online or department stores for an Over-the-door basketball hoop hamper)
2. Room Clean Relay:
Set all out of place items in a pile. Have children take turns in relay fassion running each item to it's place. Time them & try to beat their previous record. This teaches team work, & helping others since the mess in each child's room is handled by everyone.
3. The Vacuum Dance:
Have children take turns vacuuming different shapes on the floor. For while they dance behind the vacuum. Toddlars may enjoy a short ride on the fromt of the vacuum while mom vacuums in a few shapes.
4. Mop Hocky & Scrub Skating:
For mop hocky, simply soak a rag in mop solution, place it on the floor & have small children push it with the mop to every corner without it stopping in the middle. TO Scrub Skate, take 2 shop towels or rags, dip them in mop solution, have kids stand with 1 rag under each foot, then skate from 1 end to the other. (the children can take turns or simply take care of another floor)
5. The 15 Fling Boogie:
(I left this for last because its my adaptation of The flyLady's "27 Fling Boogie")
Have children scan the room & pick up 15 things 1 at a time, to put or throw away. Make it even more fun by turning it into a race, or relay.
These are just some ideas that work for us. What Ideas do you keep up your sleeve to make chore time more fun? Please share them with us in the comment section below. I hope you & your family enjoy these as much as we do.
Until Next time;
Take care, God bless, & Make it a great day!
Tuesday, September 6
Our Homeschool Schedule
Summer is winding down & we’re picking up the homeschool pase & getting back in our groove. This year, I’ve made a few adjustments to our schedule, method, & adopted a few dreams to work on through the year.
The 1st change I made was to bring in the “workbox” method. Except that I sort of tweeked it to fit my family’s needs. Here’s how.
While shopping for school supplies, I happened across a Crayola lapboard thingy, (I’m sorry, I don’t know the exact name for it) it’s a storage clipboard for lack of a better explanation. Anyhow, I bought 3 of them. I print off the worksheets for the week & any other materials from our A2 Curriculum CD, an instruction letter (with a touch of love of course), detailing the assignments & put it all in the storage portion with any colored pencils or tools they may need. (Note, the storage portion is thin, so it only fits a few utencils at a time.) This is worked on Agter our morning prayer & announcement circle; during the 3 sections of our morning lesson time; Math, writing, & reading.
After lunch we work on household chores (AKA “living Skills”), which is a time to teach tasks, etiquette, team work, etc. We try to make it as fun as possible by incorporating games like laundry basketball, mop hocky, vacuum dance, Room cleen relay, & who could forget the not-so-old fassion 15fling boogie. Now let’s give credit where credit is due; the 15fling boogie is my modification of The Flylady’s 27fling boogie.
I’ll post a subsequent entry on these games & their rules emmediatly after this one.
The 2nd change was to adapt my Iphone to keep us on track. I’ve used the alarm feature of the world clock app to set alarms for each section of our day with sounds that best correspond to the upcoming activity. This gives my cherubs & I an idea of what to expect instead of just jumping up every time we hear the beep/bell.
While we have time set for paper lessons, I try to structure the day so that we’re always learning something. Whether it's a dinner-table discussion about american history, or a round of brain-teaser questions in the car or taxy cab; I try to keep our brains from turning in to spiderwebs. lol
I love kinesthetic learning techniques since a little fun helps get learning done. But I think our favorite tool of all is the wonderful world of video. A huge thanks to Hubby who did some searching & (over time) purchased some of the best video teaching tools from our own childhood. Anyone remember schoolhouse Rock, or Bill Nye The Science Guy? Ok, how about The Magic School Bus? Those were some of my favorite shows as a kid, & still are.
Homeschooling is a trial & error, have it your way, family fed but most of all _1 _of _a kind experience.
I’ve taken bits from here & pieces from there to create a schedule and method that best fits my family. I’m happy with it. I think the cherubs will really benefit from it (provided we can keep little attitudes in check).
I’ve learned so much from reading ideas that other mom’s have posted on their blogs & I’d really like to thank them all, There are so many of them though, that I’ll have to post my thank you list another time
But, until next time; a huge thank you to all the moms who blog their homeschool, life, & other experiences so that people like me can learn & grow from them.
&
As always:
Take Care, God bles, & Make it a great day!
The 1st change I made was to bring in the “workbox” method. Except that I sort of tweeked it to fit my family’s needs. Here’s how.
While shopping for school supplies, I happened across a Crayola lapboard thingy, (I’m sorry, I don’t know the exact name for it) it’s a storage clipboard for lack of a better explanation. Anyhow, I bought 3 of them. I print off the worksheets for the week & any other materials from our A2 Curriculum CD, an instruction letter (with a touch of love of course), detailing the assignments & put it all in the storage portion with any colored pencils or tools they may need. (Note, the storage portion is thin, so it only fits a few utencils at a time.) This is worked on Agter our morning prayer & announcement circle; during the 3 sections of our morning lesson time; Math, writing, & reading.
After lunch we work on household chores (AKA “living Skills”), which is a time to teach tasks, etiquette, team work, etc. We try to make it as fun as possible by incorporating games like laundry basketball, mop hocky, vacuum dance, Room cleen relay, & who could forget the not-so-old fassion 15fling boogie. Now let’s give credit where credit is due; the 15fling boogie is my modification of The Flylady’s 27fling boogie.
I’ll post a subsequent entry on these games & their rules emmediatly after this one.
The 2nd change was to adapt my Iphone to keep us on track. I’ve used the alarm feature of the world clock app to set alarms for each section of our day with sounds that best correspond to the upcoming activity. This gives my cherubs & I an idea of what to expect instead of just jumping up every time we hear the beep/bell.
While we have time set for paper lessons, I try to structure the day so that we’re always learning something. Whether it's a dinner-table discussion about american history, or a round of brain-teaser questions in the car or taxy cab; I try to keep our brains from turning in to spiderwebs. lol
I love kinesthetic learning techniques since a little fun helps get learning done. But I think our favorite tool of all is the wonderful world of video. A huge thanks to Hubby who did some searching & (over time) purchased some of the best video teaching tools from our own childhood. Anyone remember schoolhouse Rock, or Bill Nye The Science Guy? Ok, how about The Magic School Bus? Those were some of my favorite shows as a kid, & still are.
Homeschooling is a trial & error, have it your way, family fed but most of all _1 _of _a kind experience.
I’ve taken bits from here & pieces from there to create a schedule and method that best fits my family. I’m happy with it. I think the cherubs will really benefit from it (provided we can keep little attitudes in check).
I’ve learned so much from reading ideas that other mom’s have posted on their blogs & I’d really like to thank them all, There are so many of them though, that I’ll have to post my thank you list another time
But, until next time; a huge thank you to all the moms who blog their homeschool, life, & other experiences so that people like me can learn & grow from them.
&
As always:
Take Care, God bles, & Make it a great day!
A Quick Update
Hello Friends,
Here we are at the beginning of September & this summer like much of the 2011 year has flown by.
This summer has had it’s ups & downs for the pineda family. We’ve seen the doctor almost every week, swam to our heart’s content, the boys experienced summr camp for the 1st time, hubby took some much needed time off work, I’ve been swamped in paperwork, & life is good. Lol
We’ve gotten back in touch wit some childhood friends, & ended some long time friendships. But, over all we have much to be thankful for.
The boys really enjoyed their trip to Camp Ronald McDonald For Goodtimes. It’s a camp for children & siblings affected by cancer. They spent a week there & had a wonderful time. I missed them so much it was hard to get through the week but that week was a super busy one which did help some. They’re both looking forward to winter camp now. Daughter didn’t get to go because the age requirement is 9 years & up, but I’m hoping to pull a small event together for her & her Missionette friends in the fall.
Thanks to my awesome Mom, we were able to spend a good portion of the mid-summer swimming; which was a lot of fun for us all. Daughter ditched the life jacket with a little encouragement & gained a bit of self confidence in the process. I’m proud of her.
But the best thing about this summer without a doubt is the growth, experiences, & love that we’ve all shared that helped us through all these ups & downs. I know we can make it through anything as long as we have each other. & that friends is a blessing you can’t buy anywhere. So, as I bring this update to a close, I wish you all the love, & blessings in the world.
As always, Take care, God bless, & Make it a Great day!
Here we are at the beginning of September & this summer like much of the 2011 year has flown by.
This summer has had it’s ups & downs for the pineda family. We’ve seen the doctor almost every week, swam to our heart’s content, the boys experienced summr camp for the 1st time, hubby took some much needed time off work, I’ve been swamped in paperwork, & life is good. Lol
We’ve gotten back in touch wit some childhood friends, & ended some long time friendships. But, over all we have much to be thankful for.
The boys really enjoyed their trip to Camp Ronald McDonald For Goodtimes. It’s a camp for children & siblings affected by cancer. They spent a week there & had a wonderful time. I missed them so much it was hard to get through the week but that week was a super busy one which did help some. They’re both looking forward to winter camp now. Daughter didn’t get to go because the age requirement is 9 years & up, but I’m hoping to pull a small event together for her & her Missionette friends in the fall.
Thanks to my awesome Mom, we were able to spend a good portion of the mid-summer swimming; which was a lot of fun for us all. Daughter ditched the life jacket with a little encouragement & gained a bit of self confidence in the process. I’m proud of her.
But the best thing about this summer without a doubt is the growth, experiences, & love that we’ve all shared that helped us through all these ups & downs. I know we can make it through anything as long as we have each other. & that friends is a blessing you can’t buy anywhere. So, as I bring this update to a close, I wish you all the love, & blessings in the world.
As always, Take care, God bless, & Make it a Great day!
Wednesday, July 27
special needs in public
Recently I was reading my facebook feed & happened upon a question that got the wheels in my head turning. A question to the tune of "what not to say to a parent of special needs child/ren.
Hmm...
The following is what I posted in response to this question, what comes next are my thoughts that came after that particular post was already sent.
There is so much to be said on this subject. I think that being a blind parent of 3 children 1 vision impaired, 2 has an auditory processing disorder, & my 3rd is typical; people are inclined to stare, whisper, or even yell their questions in to my & my husband's faces (he's also vision impaired). I've been blind since age 2 due to cancer tumors in my eyes which were passed from my dad to me & then to my son, & hubby was born with congenital cataracs. People can really be rude but I can tell you as a now grown child with special needs, I would much rather answer a genuine question about my disability than deal with someone screaming "HOW'w'W AAARe YOOOOUUUU" in my face. (when I say in my face, I mean literally 2 inches from my face) I think the other thing I would suggest to those who really want to help, ask how you can help before just pushing us out of the way. I say that because as friends, relatives, & even my own parents have done in the past; the thought process is "I can get it done faster" while it may take us more time to do something, it only makes our frustration that much greater. I once had a gentleman pick me up & cary me across the intersection. I'd much rather walk on my own thank you. :)
With things the way they are in society now, awareness has come a long way, but we're nowhere near where we should be. The comunity around us has no idea what our day to day life is & I personally feel that a day spent in sensory deprivation may just bring the light of awareness that much closer.
When I began the early childhood program at the Blind Children's Learning Center in Santa Ana California, my parents attended a lunch event. This event was held for the parents of blind children. Parents had to eat their lunch blind folded. Most parents were in tears by the hour's end because they were unable to complete the meal with out a spill or even at all.
In my own parents's words,"you never know until you walk a mile in a person's shoes. & every person in the world is different. What is easy for you may be hard for me & everyone is different."
I was blessed with parents who didn't hold me back saying I couldn't do something I was always given the opportunity to try. My parent's are responsible for the person I am today. I don't give up easily, I don't take no for an answer if it's something I feel I _can achieve, & although my financial status may not be as great as that of others (I am richer in blessings than I am in finances), by no means am I poor.
If I made a mess, it was my job to clean it up. If I needed help, they were there to help me, not to do it for me.
I asked my own parents what they thought the worst thing a person could say was & to be honest I have to whole heartedly agree,
Poor baby, s/he'll never ... I'm sorry"
There is no way to really show a person what it is like to be autistic, or to have any number of developmental disabilities; but if we start with the physical ones we may just break the ice & teach the "normal" *what is _normal anyway?* people what our everyday lives are like.
Most people that stop & stare have a question that is genuine, but once a person knows the answer, they no longer wonder & thus they no longer feel the need to stare. I believe that _everyone has a special need of some sort. Maybe you have a weak knee, maybe a lazy eye, maybe even an alergy? All of these are special needs, something you have to make an adaptation for; is a special need. Some needs are bigger than others & believe me it truly is a small world after all.
I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have; you can post them in the comments below & I'll try my best to answer your questions to the best of my ability.
I really do hope to hear from you,,It wasn't until I spoke to an adult friend who has an auditory processing disorder that I was able to understand more of how to help my son make the adaptations he needed.
As always; God bless, & Make it a great day!
:(
Hmm...
The following is what I posted in response to this question, what comes next are my thoughts that came after that particular post was already sent.
There is so much to be said on this subject. I think that being a blind parent of 3 children 1 vision impaired, 2 has an auditory processing disorder, & my 3rd is typical; people are inclined to stare, whisper, or even yell their questions in to my & my husband's faces (he's also vision impaired). I've been blind since age 2 due to cancer tumors in my eyes which were passed from my dad to me & then to my son, & hubby was born with congenital cataracs. People can really be rude but I can tell you as a now grown child with special needs, I would much rather answer a genuine question about my disability than deal with someone screaming "HOW'w'W AAARe YOOOOUUUU" in my face. (when I say in my face, I mean literally 2 inches from my face) I think the other thing I would suggest to those who really want to help, ask how you can help before just pushing us out of the way. I say that because as friends, relatives, & even my own parents have done in the past; the thought process is "I can get it done faster" while it may take us more time to do something, it only makes our frustration that much greater. I once had a gentleman pick me up & cary me across the intersection. I'd much rather walk on my own thank you. :)
With things the way they are in society now, awareness has come a long way, but we're nowhere near where we should be. The comunity around us has no idea what our day to day life is & I personally feel that a day spent in sensory deprivation may just bring the light of awareness that much closer.
When I began the early childhood program at the Blind Children's Learning Center in Santa Ana California, my parents attended a lunch event. This event was held for the parents of blind children. Parents had to eat their lunch blind folded. Most parents were in tears by the hour's end because they were unable to complete the meal with out a spill or even at all.
In my own parents's words,"you never know until you walk a mile in a person's shoes. & every person in the world is different. What is easy for you may be hard for me & everyone is different."
I was blessed with parents who didn't hold me back saying I couldn't do something I was always given the opportunity to try. My parent's are responsible for the person I am today. I don't give up easily, I don't take no for an answer if it's something I feel I _can achieve, & although my financial status may not be as great as that of others (I am richer in blessings than I am in finances), by no means am I poor.
If I made a mess, it was my job to clean it up. If I needed help, they were there to help me, not to do it for me.
I asked my own parents what they thought the worst thing a person could say was & to be honest I have to whole heartedly agree,
Poor baby, s/he'll never ... I'm sorry"
There is no way to really show a person what it is like to be autistic, or to have any number of developmental disabilities; but if we start with the physical ones we may just break the ice & teach the "normal" *what is _normal anyway?* people what our everyday lives are like.
Most people that stop & stare have a question that is genuine, but once a person knows the answer, they no longer wonder & thus they no longer feel the need to stare. I believe that _everyone has a special need of some sort. Maybe you have a weak knee, maybe a lazy eye, maybe even an alergy? All of these are special needs, something you have to make an adaptation for; is a special need. Some needs are bigger than others & believe me it truly is a small world after all.
I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have; you can post them in the comments below & I'll try my best to answer your questions to the best of my ability.
I really do hope to hear from you,,It wasn't until I spoke to an adult friend who has an auditory processing disorder that I was able to understand more of how to help my son make the adaptations he needed.
As always; God bless, & Make it a great day!
:(
Monday, June 13
A Birthday Blog or Parenting From A Special-Needs Child-now-Parent's Point of View
Happy Birthday Annie Girl!!! My mom half shouted into my bedroom door on the morning of my 10th birthday. I stretched and lazily rolled out of my bed.
"I'm still tired," I yawned with a smile.
"Come on out to the living room," she said quietly.
So, I got dressed, & when I was ready to go to school, I made my way down the hall into the living room where I promptly flopped down on the couch or rather the box that had been there first.
"You're supposed to open it, not sit on it," laughed my dad.
I laughed and opened the big box.
"ROLLER-BLADES!!!"
I had what I had been begging and pleading for for months.
"I'm gonna wear em to school!"
"I don't think you... Um, How about after school?"
I was so excited and believe me those roller-blades got their fair share of wear and tear.
"Happy birthday son!!" I said in to the phone this past Sunday. The cherubs had spent the night at Nana & Papa's house (the same house I grew up in). This was my oldest son's 10th birthday & it's simply amazing how much he's grown, how much he's learned, and yet there is still so much he needs to know before he turns 18. I have 8 years left in which time I am responsible for making this boy into a responsible, functional, considerate, respectable, and educated young man.
"Can we say Yikes!!!"
Life has it's ups, downs, swirls, and twirls; but nothing can ever prepare you for the rude awakening that is your child's growing up. I think in this world, you can only do your best but sometimes I wonder if my best is good enough & I take solis in the fact that I'm not the only one. Oh, I can sit and play "What If" with the best of em.
But, my best gage is my son himself. He may test my pacients, work my nerve, and even just plain tick me off once in a while; but when I see the person that little bundle of blanket and diaper with a face has become, I thank God because even though there still a few quirks to work through he's on the right path. I have 2 more lights of my life, and by no means are they any different. While they all have their personalities, their own quirks, and their own perposes in life; they are all my cherubs.
Believe me kids will test you to infinity and beyond, but to be there for them at that crucial moment when they need you most is what helps make them who they are and who they will be.
As for me, I was blessed to have a set of parents who allowed me to fall, get messy, and let me pick my self up and dust myself off. They were there when I needed them (Heck who am I kidding they still are) and they were there when I needed them to kick my butt in to gear. It's important to let your children live, learn, and love; and when it's all said and done, they'll be better people for it. Especially if that child/ren has special needs, whether physical chalenges, blindness, deafness, or developmental needs, the best thing you can do is wind em up & watch em go. Of course you know your babies better than anyone else ever could, & each child reaches milestones at his/her own pase (special needs or not). But, experience is the best teacher even if it means making mistakes. I can tell you some stories about some sheltered children that would make you want to scream; ranging from a 16 year old blind child forbidden to use a fork, to a 7 year-old still taking a binky at naptime. I can also tell you stories about children who have successfully won olimpic compatitions, 5 year-old musicians, & a blind girl who grew up to write a blog (Can you guess who that is? lol).
I don't have all the answers, I don't even have a success story to tell yet, but what I do have is 3 cherubs, a lot of tough love to give, & most importantly the power of prayer on my side.
Parenthood, it's not all easy, it's not all bad, it's a blessing to be a parent, and remember that not all people are so fortunate to have children of their own. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I am just having a mommy moment and I'm sharing it with you. I really don't know what the perpose of this post is, except to say
"Happy Birthday Nathan!!!"
Until next time, take care and as always, God bless &
Make it a great day!
"I'm still tired," I yawned with a smile.
"Come on out to the living room," she said quietly.
So, I got dressed, & when I was ready to go to school, I made my way down the hall into the living room where I promptly flopped down on the couch or rather the box that had been there first.
"You're supposed to open it, not sit on it," laughed my dad.
I laughed and opened the big box.
"ROLLER-BLADES!!!"
I had what I had been begging and pleading for for months.
"I'm gonna wear em to school!"
"I don't think you... Um, How about after school?"
I was so excited and believe me those roller-blades got their fair share of wear and tear.
"Happy birthday son!!" I said in to the phone this past Sunday. The cherubs had spent the night at Nana & Papa's house (the same house I grew up in). This was my oldest son's 10th birthday & it's simply amazing how much he's grown, how much he's learned, and yet there is still so much he needs to know before he turns 18. I have 8 years left in which time I am responsible for making this boy into a responsible, functional, considerate, respectable, and educated young man.
"Can we say Yikes!!!"
Life has it's ups, downs, swirls, and twirls; but nothing can ever prepare you for the rude awakening that is your child's growing up. I think in this world, you can only do your best but sometimes I wonder if my best is good enough & I take solis in the fact that I'm not the only one. Oh, I can sit and play "What If" with the best of em.
But, my best gage is my son himself. He may test my pacients, work my nerve, and even just plain tick me off once in a while; but when I see the person that little bundle of blanket and diaper with a face has become, I thank God because even though there still a few quirks to work through he's on the right path. I have 2 more lights of my life, and by no means are they any different. While they all have their personalities, their own quirks, and their own perposes in life; they are all my cherubs.
Believe me kids will test you to infinity and beyond, but to be there for them at that crucial moment when they need you most is what helps make them who they are and who they will be.
As for me, I was blessed to have a set of parents who allowed me to fall, get messy, and let me pick my self up and dust myself off. They were there when I needed them (Heck who am I kidding they still are) and they were there when I needed them to kick my butt in to gear. It's important to let your children live, learn, and love; and when it's all said and done, they'll be better people for it. Especially if that child/ren has special needs, whether physical chalenges, blindness, deafness, or developmental needs, the best thing you can do is wind em up & watch em go. Of course you know your babies better than anyone else ever could, & each child reaches milestones at his/her own pase (special needs or not). But, experience is the best teacher even if it means making mistakes. I can tell you some stories about some sheltered children that would make you want to scream; ranging from a 16 year old blind child forbidden to use a fork, to a 7 year-old still taking a binky at naptime. I can also tell you stories about children who have successfully won olimpic compatitions, 5 year-old musicians, & a blind girl who grew up to write a blog (Can you guess who that is? lol).
I don't have all the answers, I don't even have a success story to tell yet, but what I do have is 3 cherubs, a lot of tough love to give, & most importantly the power of prayer on my side.
Parenthood, it's not all easy, it's not all bad, it's a blessing to be a parent, and remember that not all people are so fortunate to have children of their own. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I am just having a mommy moment and I'm sharing it with you. I really don't know what the perpose of this post is, except to say
"Happy Birthday Nathan!!!"
Until next time, take care and as always, God bless &
Make it a great day!
Time Flys When You're Having Fun
Hello again friends! It is now the middle of June and half of this year has just flown by like a rocket.
This past few months have been a bit hecktic with health issues, and unexpected chalenges. Getting settled in to our new place has proven to be a bit more time consuming than I had expected, and of course homeschooling always keeps us on our toes. But life would be borring if it never threw a curve ball in our direction at least once in a while; right?
So here I am once again and this time I have compiled a short version of a list of sights and resources that I hope will be of some help to you. Some of these I've known about for a while, still others are new additions to our ever growing list of resources. I will be creating a page of recommended resources but until then, here's a few to check out in the meantime.
Below are some websites that cary all sorts of gadgetry that will help you as a parent &/or as a homemaker, won't break the bank, and who knows, you may just find something you'd like just for the fun of it.
future Aids: http://www.futureaids.com/
(Formerly known as The Braille SuperStore, it's a great resource for adaptive toys, games, educational materials, & transcription services.(
American Printing House For The Blind: www.APH.org
(A great resource for braille, large print, and recorded materials, as well as some neat embossing and braille teaching equipment.)
Maxi Aids: www.maxiaids.com
(This site caters to all sorts of disabilities including blind & low vision.)
Independent Living Aids: http://www.independentliving.com/
(This is another site catering to all sorts of disabilities. Sometimes they may have a lower price or a product in stock that may not be available at Maxiaids.)
Seedlings Braille Books For Children: http://www.seedlings.or/
Seedlings offers brailled board books for early childhood development these are nice for children just beginning to read braille or for parents who are blind & wish to read to their sighted children. Don't forget to look for books for older kids too.)
Lakeshore Learning: http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/
(a site dedicated to early childhood learning lots of neat toys, games, books & Teaching resources.)
Blind Mice Mart: http://www.blindmicemart.com/
(this site caries a large selection of discriptive audio movies, & some adaptive equipment including but not limmited to labeling machines and cook books.)
WGBH: http://main.wgbh.org/
(This is the company that describes television shows such as Sesame Street and The Simpsons, theater motion pictures, and also offer a wide selection of home videos with description, ranging from clasic disney movies, to scifi and documentaries, and anything in between.)
Extreme Geek: http://www.x-tremegeek.com/
(this isn't spacificly a "blind" site, but they cary a few kitchen & household products that may help you & some silly things you just might have fun with.)
IDTags: http://www.idtags.com/
(just thought I'd throw this out there, a site offering medical & child ID neckleases & bracelets maybe a good thing to have on yourself &or the baby just in case.)
Note: Future, maxi, & independent living aids; cary canes, labeling equipment, writing equipment, & so much more so don't forget to check for those things, their prices are much lower than the Braille instatute student stor.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to leave them in the comment section below, I'll do my best to find the answers for you.
Take care & as always, God bless, & Make it a great day!
This past few months have been a bit hecktic with health issues, and unexpected chalenges. Getting settled in to our new place has proven to be a bit more time consuming than I had expected, and of course homeschooling always keeps us on our toes. But life would be borring if it never threw a curve ball in our direction at least once in a while; right?
So here I am once again and this time I have compiled a short version of a list of sights and resources that I hope will be of some help to you. Some of these I've known about for a while, still others are new additions to our ever growing list of resources. I will be creating a page of recommended resources but until then, here's a few to check out in the meantime.
Below are some websites that cary all sorts of gadgetry that will help you as a parent &/or as a homemaker, won't break the bank, and who knows, you may just find something you'd like just for the fun of it.
future Aids: http://www.futureaids.com/
(Formerly known as The Braille SuperStore, it's a great resource for adaptive toys, games, educational materials, & transcription services.(
American Printing House For The Blind: www.APH.org
(A great resource for braille, large print, and recorded materials, as well as some neat embossing and braille teaching equipment.)
Maxi Aids: www.maxiaids.com
(This site caters to all sorts of disabilities including blind & low vision.)
Independent Living Aids: http://www.independentliving.com/
(This is another site catering to all sorts of disabilities. Sometimes they may have a lower price or a product in stock that may not be available at Maxiaids.)
Seedlings Braille Books For Children: http://www.seedlings.or/
Seedlings offers brailled board books for early childhood development these are nice for children just beginning to read braille or for parents who are blind & wish to read to their sighted children. Don't forget to look for books for older kids too.)
Lakeshore Learning: http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/
(a site dedicated to early childhood learning lots of neat toys, games, books & Teaching resources.)
Blind Mice Mart: http://www.blindmicemart.com/
(this site caries a large selection of discriptive audio movies, & some adaptive equipment including but not limmited to labeling machines and cook books.)
WGBH: http://main.wgbh.org/
(This is the company that describes television shows such as Sesame Street and The Simpsons, theater motion pictures, and also offer a wide selection of home videos with description, ranging from clasic disney movies, to scifi and documentaries, and anything in between.)
Extreme Geek: http://www.x-tremegeek.com/
(this isn't spacificly a "blind" site, but they cary a few kitchen & household products that may help you & some silly things you just might have fun with.)
IDTags: http://www.idtags.com/
(just thought I'd throw this out there, a site offering medical & child ID neckleases & bracelets maybe a good thing to have on yourself &or the baby just in case.)
Note: Future, maxi, & independent living aids; cary canes, labeling equipment, writing equipment, & so much more so don't forget to check for those things, their prices are much lower than the Braille instatute student stor.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to leave them in the comment section below, I'll do my best to find the answers for you.
Take care & as always, God bless, & Make it a great day!
Sunday, April 10
Common Cents - Some Tips for saving them
This recession has been on for a very long time. Now the government is having a "shut down" (leaving active military with only half a paycheck to work with until they get it together & pass a budget), some rely on supplemental security income, others are single income families, and Lord knows there are a million and one different reasons why families have to function on less than the ideal budget. Whatever your reason may be; I've been looking for and putting to use these tips & tricks I'll be sharing with you today.
These are suggestions, you may choose to use some or all of them, but I hope that if you do use them you'll consider that many of these suggestions take a little more hands on work, and while they don't take much time to make or put to use, they will save a very pretty penny. The following prices are based on California prices as of April 2011, The cost of a box of baking soda is anywhere between 1 and 3 dollars, a box of borax runs about the same, and a gallon bottle of vinegar is about $5 or so. These are the basics for most of the recipes here & a bar of soap is only a few cents to a dollar.
1. Making your own:
Soaps/cleanser: If you take a bar of soap, and grate it in to a bowl, then add enough distilled water (you can find gallon containers of distilled water for about a dollar in any grocery/drug store) to make it a thick liquid, pour it into a washed flip top bottle. You've made your own body wash. (Note: boys can use this for hair as well saving on actual shampoo).
Toothpaste:
By mixing a teaspoon of baking soda, a pinch of salt, and some peppermint or your preferred flavor extract, then just enough water to make a paste; you can make very effective toothpaste. Put it in a small jar with a lid and mix it with a clean toothpick or the like before each use, put the same amount on your tooth brush as usual and brush away.
Laundry soap:
Grate a bar of Zote, Fels Naptha, or ivory soap into a bowl, add a cup of baking soda, and a cup of borax to it, pour it into a zip lock bag and shake or move around to mix well. Add 1 tablespoon to each load. It lasts a good while and cleans clothes just as well if not better than the stuff you pay $17.00 for at the store every month.
Carpet freshener:
In a jar with a lid, mix 1 cup of baking soda, and a tablespoon of your favorite spice such as cinnamon or ginger; shake the jar to mix well. Sprinkle this on your carpet then vacuum it up. It keeps your carpet fresh, eliminates any odors, and makes your home smell good as well.
2. Barter:
Offer a service such as babysitting, meal preparation, or something you are good at, in exchange for a product you need or a service you might not be so handy with. In this way both parties benefit because you'll have saved each other an expense that could very well mean saving either one of you from overdraw or other unfortunate hardship.
3. Change some cleaning methods:
Washing dishes
Fill 1 side of the sink with hot water, add a cup of white vinegar (don't worry the smell will not be there for long), sprinkle some baking soda on your dish sponge and use it to scrub your dishes, once all debris is un stuck place the dish in the vinegar water and when that side is full of clean dishes, you can remove them and rinse them before setting in the strainer or drying them and putting them away. Baking soda cuts grease better than anything I've ever seen & using this method I've cleaned pans I had long sense lost hope for. The vinegar is nontoxic so if water usage is an issue there is no need to rinse the dishes after dipping them in the water.
All-purpose Cleaner:
Fill a spray bottle with the juice from half a lemon, half a cup of vinegar, a teaspoon of baking soda and top it off with water; to clean everything from surfaces to vegetables. Baking soda is safe to use on glass surfaces because it's a fine powder just strong enough to remove grime, but gentle enough not to scratch.
Mopping:
After sweeping the bare floor, sprinkle baking soda on the area to be mopped, in a bucket of hot water add a cup of vinegar. Mop floor as usual cleaning up the baking soda as you go. It is interesting to have someone see the bucket when you're done, because the surprise in his or her voice is genuine.
4. Menu plan:
It's always a good idea to have some sort of reserve just in case. Some foods I like to keep in my pantry are basic staple items that can be thrown together in a pinch. Create a menu plan based on lower costing foods such as rice, beans, pasta with canned or jarred sauces, and canned goods. I like to keep these foods in my pantry for emergencies. Think about what foods you and your family enjoy and see if you can figure out a way to make those meals using lower priced ingredients.
Home cooking:
If you buy a burger you eat 1 time, if you make burgers at home, you're more likely to have left-overs and feed the family at least 1 more time before your food is gone and for the same amount of money. The same rules apply for most any other food you can think of. Save restaurant outings for big celebrations such as birthdays or holidays.
Starbucks:
Well ladies and Gents, I'm going there. No, Starbucks. I realize that coffee shops and juice smoothies are simply awesome, if they don't feed the fam it's time to give em up for a bit. Buy coffee you can make at home then try adding your own spices such as cinnamon, vanilla, or nutmeg to your cup. It's just as easy to come up with flavors of your own, and who knows; you may even find that you like your creations better than the ones that cost 4 dollars a cup. Try brewing tea as well, grocery stores carry a wide variety of teas and there is bound to be 1 that you enjoy.
5. Shop with care:
Make a list and stick to it:
When shopping for groceries, make a list before hand of all the things you will need for your meals. Take that list with you and stick to it. It's tempting to grab that extra candy bar; bag of chips, or even soda on the way out, but it is not really a necessity so leave it for another time.
Coupons:
While I'd love to say go through your Sunday paper and clip out the coupons, I know that I couldn't do that if I wanted to because I can't see them. So, get online, google whatever company or product and then add the word coupon in the search field. You should be able to either print out coupons for these things or find online coupon codes you can use during checkout. Don't hesitate to ask friends or family to help you look for coupons and you can keep them in a set of envelopes labeled by category. Also, while a great bargain can be helpful, sometimes we buy things we don't really need because we can get them at a cheaper price. Instead, look for a bargain on a specific item you need & leave the rest for later.
6. Write out a budget:
Creating a budget allows you to see how much you have and then decide how much you can afford to spend on each bill. If you can set a certain amount each month, or each pay period you can save yourself time, stress and of course money. Take each bill you have and divide your earnings evenly amongst them. Be sure to add the category of groceries, savings, and household expenses. That way you can tell how much to spend on payday.
7. Reduce:
You can also reduce your expenses by calling the utility, gas, phone, cable companies etc, and asking about downgrading minutes, package plans, or baseline programs offered by the utility and gas company. Some of these programs may require a doctor's report, but it's worth the trouble to reduce the monthly cost. A LAN line phone company may also offer a reduced rate program. Ask if your state has a telephone Accessibility Program. These are programs that offer free accessible adaptive phone equipment to people with disabilities.
There are so many ways a person can save from the simple common sense changes like turning off lights and appliances every time you leave a room to extreme changes such as making your own baby wipes (some people make wipes from flannel instead of buying toilet paper or cotton fabric napkins for dining and clean up) and using cloth diapers either for a baby or for feminine needs. If you can sew this may be an option you may wish to consider. But no matter what changes you make, always remember that money isn't everything and money is not what makes us who we are, it's our family and the time you spend together. Getting the kids involved with making soap, baking your own snacks, or just a good board game instead of cable TV can create some awesome memories. An added benefit, these are skills that our children can use in case they run in to hard times when they grow up, and they can pass them on to the next generation.
I hope you take these suggestions and recipes with you and that they help you save as much as they've helped me. I'm not rich, I'm not anywhere near it, but I still have enough to keep my family safe, healthy, and happy. I wish the same and more for you.
Do you have any tips to share? If you do, I'd really love to hear them. Please feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
Until next time, God bless you all and as always; make it a great day!
These are suggestions, you may choose to use some or all of them, but I hope that if you do use them you'll consider that many of these suggestions take a little more hands on work, and while they don't take much time to make or put to use, they will save a very pretty penny. The following prices are based on California prices as of April 2011, The cost of a box of baking soda is anywhere between 1 and 3 dollars, a box of borax runs about the same, and a gallon bottle of vinegar is about $5 or so. These are the basics for most of the recipes here & a bar of soap is only a few cents to a dollar.
1. Making your own:
Soaps/cleanser: If you take a bar of soap, and grate it in to a bowl, then add enough distilled water (you can find gallon containers of distilled water for about a dollar in any grocery/drug store) to make it a thick liquid, pour it into a washed flip top bottle. You've made your own body wash. (Note: boys can use this for hair as well saving on actual shampoo).
Toothpaste:
By mixing a teaspoon of baking soda, a pinch of salt, and some peppermint or your preferred flavor extract, then just enough water to make a paste; you can make very effective toothpaste. Put it in a small jar with a lid and mix it with a clean toothpick or the like before each use, put the same amount on your tooth brush as usual and brush away.
Laundry soap:
Grate a bar of Zote, Fels Naptha, or ivory soap into a bowl, add a cup of baking soda, and a cup of borax to it, pour it into a zip lock bag and shake or move around to mix well. Add 1 tablespoon to each load. It lasts a good while and cleans clothes just as well if not better than the stuff you pay $17.00 for at the store every month.
Carpet freshener:
In a jar with a lid, mix 1 cup of baking soda, and a tablespoon of your favorite spice such as cinnamon or ginger; shake the jar to mix well. Sprinkle this on your carpet then vacuum it up. It keeps your carpet fresh, eliminates any odors, and makes your home smell good as well.
2. Barter:
Offer a service such as babysitting, meal preparation, or something you are good at, in exchange for a product you need or a service you might not be so handy with. In this way both parties benefit because you'll have saved each other an expense that could very well mean saving either one of you from overdraw or other unfortunate hardship.
3. Change some cleaning methods:
Washing dishes
Fill 1 side of the sink with hot water, add a cup of white vinegar (don't worry the smell will not be there for long), sprinkle some baking soda on your dish sponge and use it to scrub your dishes, once all debris is un stuck place the dish in the vinegar water and when that side is full of clean dishes, you can remove them and rinse them before setting in the strainer or drying them and putting them away. Baking soda cuts grease better than anything I've ever seen & using this method I've cleaned pans I had long sense lost hope for. The vinegar is nontoxic so if water usage is an issue there is no need to rinse the dishes after dipping them in the water.
All-purpose Cleaner:
Fill a spray bottle with the juice from half a lemon, half a cup of vinegar, a teaspoon of baking soda and top it off with water; to clean everything from surfaces to vegetables. Baking soda is safe to use on glass surfaces because it's a fine powder just strong enough to remove grime, but gentle enough not to scratch.
Mopping:
After sweeping the bare floor, sprinkle baking soda on the area to be mopped, in a bucket of hot water add a cup of vinegar. Mop floor as usual cleaning up the baking soda as you go. It is interesting to have someone see the bucket when you're done, because the surprise in his or her voice is genuine.
4. Menu plan:
It's always a good idea to have some sort of reserve just in case. Some foods I like to keep in my pantry are basic staple items that can be thrown together in a pinch. Create a menu plan based on lower costing foods such as rice, beans, pasta with canned or jarred sauces, and canned goods. I like to keep these foods in my pantry for emergencies. Think about what foods you and your family enjoy and see if you can figure out a way to make those meals using lower priced ingredients.
Home cooking:
If you buy a burger you eat 1 time, if you make burgers at home, you're more likely to have left-overs and feed the family at least 1 more time before your food is gone and for the same amount of money. The same rules apply for most any other food you can think of. Save restaurant outings for big celebrations such as birthdays or holidays.
Starbucks:
Well ladies and Gents, I'm going there. No, Starbucks. I realize that coffee shops and juice smoothies are simply awesome, if they don't feed the fam it's time to give em up for a bit. Buy coffee you can make at home then try adding your own spices such as cinnamon, vanilla, or nutmeg to your cup. It's just as easy to come up with flavors of your own, and who knows; you may even find that you like your creations better than the ones that cost 4 dollars a cup. Try brewing tea as well, grocery stores carry a wide variety of teas and there is bound to be 1 that you enjoy.
5. Shop with care:
Make a list and stick to it:
When shopping for groceries, make a list before hand of all the things you will need for your meals. Take that list with you and stick to it. It's tempting to grab that extra candy bar; bag of chips, or even soda on the way out, but it is not really a necessity so leave it for another time.
Coupons:
While I'd love to say go through your Sunday paper and clip out the coupons, I know that I couldn't do that if I wanted to because I can't see them. So, get online, google whatever company or product and then add the word coupon in the search field. You should be able to either print out coupons for these things or find online coupon codes you can use during checkout. Don't hesitate to ask friends or family to help you look for coupons and you can keep them in a set of envelopes labeled by category. Also, while a great bargain can be helpful, sometimes we buy things we don't really need because we can get them at a cheaper price. Instead, look for a bargain on a specific item you need & leave the rest for later.
6. Write out a budget:
Creating a budget allows you to see how much you have and then decide how much you can afford to spend on each bill. If you can set a certain amount each month, or each pay period you can save yourself time, stress and of course money. Take each bill you have and divide your earnings evenly amongst them. Be sure to add the category of groceries, savings, and household expenses. That way you can tell how much to spend on payday.
7. Reduce:
You can also reduce your expenses by calling the utility, gas, phone, cable companies etc, and asking about downgrading minutes, package plans, or baseline programs offered by the utility and gas company. Some of these programs may require a doctor's report, but it's worth the trouble to reduce the monthly cost. A LAN line phone company may also offer a reduced rate program. Ask if your state has a telephone Accessibility Program. These are programs that offer free accessible adaptive phone equipment to people with disabilities.
There are so many ways a person can save from the simple common sense changes like turning off lights and appliances every time you leave a room to extreme changes such as making your own baby wipes (some people make wipes from flannel instead of buying toilet paper or cotton fabric napkins for dining and clean up) and using cloth diapers either for a baby or for feminine needs. If you can sew this may be an option you may wish to consider. But no matter what changes you make, always remember that money isn't everything and money is not what makes us who we are, it's our family and the time you spend together. Getting the kids involved with making soap, baking your own snacks, or just a good board game instead of cable TV can create some awesome memories. An added benefit, these are skills that our children can use in case they run in to hard times when they grow up, and they can pass them on to the next generation.
I hope you take these suggestions and recipes with you and that they help you save as much as they've helped me. I'm not rich, I'm not anywhere near it, but I still have enough to keep my family safe, healthy, and happy. I wish the same and more for you.
Do you have any tips to share? If you do, I'd really love to hear them. Please feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
Until next time, God bless you all and as always; make it a great day!
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